Redemption No Borders: Poverty

October 22, 2012 by jpark

October 17 marked the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. The United Nations’ Secretary General Ban Ki Moon released an address stressing solutions rather than distressing over the problems. Acknowledging the scope, he said there are more than a billion people around the world who live in poverty and are denied their rights to food, education, and health care. “Poverty is easy to denounce but difficult to combat. Those suffering from hunger, want, and indignity need more than sympathetic words; they need concrete support.”

Worldwide Christian Schools President Scott Vanderkooy says they’re trying to be part of the solution. “From our perspective, poverty is often a mindset that transfers from one generation to another. Changing this mindset is really difficult.” That’s especially true in a time when economic conditions are creating a whole new class of poor around the world. Worldwide Christian Schools’ mission is to work through indigenous-led organizations to achieve their goals of developing Christian schools. They focus on areas in the developing world where there are either no other options for education, or schooling has become unaffordable for families from the lowest economic levels. “There are a lot of different types of poverty. There’s spiritual poverty, as well,” explains Vanderkooy. “The projects of Worldwide Christians Schools strive to introduce children to the God who loves them,” and that makes all the difference in the world. Partner projects are ongoing in Haiti, the Dominican Republic, India, Uganda, Zambia, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Belize, Kenya, Honduras, and most recently, work has begun in Burma.

“International Day for the Eradication of Poverty: more headway needed.” Mnnonline.org,17 Oct, 2012.

Please pray…

For the physical needs of the people affected by poverty all over the world.

For the Gospel message to meet the spiritual needs of those in poverty.